Does the Afghan War Need A CEO?

The U.S. mission in Afghanistan suffers from a lack of common objectives among U.S. agencies, argue Randy George and Dante Paradiso. What the war needs is a single commander to unite civilian and military efforts, they write. Not so, replies James Dobbins: Washington should be loath to move away from its tradition of civilian control of the armed forces.

The Case for a Wartime Chief Executive OfficerFixing the Interagency Quagmire in Afghanistan Randy George and Dante ParadisoNo matter the strategy the Obama administration ultimately chooses in Afghanistan, the U.S. mission there would be well-served by vesting command authority in one individual: a U.S. Chief Executive Officer for the war effort.

Unity's Limits Why Unity of Command Won't Work in AfghanistanJames DobbinsEven at some short-term cost in efficiency, the United States should not abandon its strong tradition of civilian control over the military for unity of command.

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